Chapter 60

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 60

Chapter Title: Controversy

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IAmPresident ultimately couldn't fire off any more star balloons in the face of Coin King's overwhelming barrage.

To be precise, he still had the money to keep shooting, but he held back out of fear that suddenly moving such a large sum could lead to a dangerous situation.

It wasn't a lack of funds—it was the realistic dread that forcibly pulling in more money might backfire on him.

Coin King hurled one final, decisive taunt at the now-silent IAmPresident, who had stopped shooting balloons.

The chat exploded once more, cheering Coin King's provocation.

But IAmPresident offered no rebuttal or response, quietly slipping out of Yeji's broadcast room.

The victor was clear.

In the end, Coin King had claimed a flawless victory in this star balloon war.

Soon, the AmericaTV community boards lit up once again over the results ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of the showdown.

Posts and comments poured in rapidly.

Then some started leaving pointed comments about IAmPresident.

Rumors that had only circulated quietly before now spread far and wide on people's lips thanks to this showdown.

The defeated IAmPresident suffered wounds to his pride from Coin King's taunts and the mockery on the community boards.

On the other hand, Coin King solidified his recognition and reputation as a true big spender on the boards.

The pride-staked star balloon battle had finally come to an end.

In the fierce clash between the two big spenders, Coin King and IAmPresident, the biggest winner was Yeji.

In just a few hours, the star balloons she'd received totaled a staggering 5 million—worth about 500 million won.

It was unprecedented on AmericaTV for a female cam girl to rake in this much during a broadcast.

Yeji had spent the entire stream unable to stop the fight, flustered and on edge as she watched the big spenders duke it out.

But deep down, she had been rooting for Coin King, who had protected her from start to finish.

Once Coin King claimed victory at last, Yeji couldn't hide her joy, flashing a radiant smile as she showered him with aegyo.

"As expected, the only prince who protects me is my Coin King oppa~! Thank you, oppa~!"

Her cute, sweet aegyo sent the viewers into a frenzy, flooding the chat.

Coin King's name blanketed the screen in an instant, scrolling endlessly.

From this incident, Coin King cemented his status as AmericaTV's top big spender and a living legend.

And Yeji, thrust into the center of the star balloon war in mere hours, earned herself the new nickname "Queen."

She had rocketed to the position countless streamers dreamed of.

Every streamer on AmericaTV who witnessed the event began inwardly coveting Coin King.

They desperately hoped he'd visit their rooms and become their "chairman," fantasizing that his appearance would change their lives overnight.

The next morning, as dawn broke, the incident from Yeji's broadcast spread explosively, just as expected.

News outlets, internet communities, and YouTube channels raced to produce articles and videos on the astonishing story.

Sensational headlines plastered portal sites' front pages with screenshots from Yeji's stream.

Her shocked expression as star balloons burst forth, and the massive donation messages scrolling in real-time, were all exposed.

The media packaged it with clickbait hooks even for those unfamiliar with AmericaTV.

Phrases like "Cam girl earns hundreds of millions in hours" and "Internet broadcast whales throwing money like water" proliferated to boost clicks.

YouTube recap channels pounced on the opportunity too.

YouTube ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠thumbnails were overrun with dramatic faces and huge numbers, and the names of streamer Yeji, big spender Coin King, and IAmPresident shot to national fame overnight.

Comment sections overflowed with mixed opinions.

Many criticized the massive money thrown around in the internet broadcast star balloon fight.

On the flip side, shock and negative views toward such easy squandering of huge sums fueled the controversy.

But for Yeji, it was an unexpected stroke of luck.

Her name spread far and wide, and AmericaTV gained a new star whale at its center.

Thus, the internet broadcast world stirred up the entire nation once more with scorching hot drama.

As the star balloon showdown in Yeji's stream drew nationwide attention, it ballooned into a full-blown social debate.

People couldn't comprehend how hundreds of millions could change hands in hours on an internet broadcast, unleashing a torrent of criticism.

Even mainstream news picked it up, amplifying public interest.

The broadcasts of flashy internet streaming and its massive profits left ordinary office workers and small business owners feeling relatively deprived.

After all, sums hard to earn through honest sweat flowed all too easily in streaming.

Female-dominated communities unleashed harsh criticism and vitriol at Yeji.

Their rage mixed blatant jealousy and relative deprivation, which they denied even to themselves, venting through attacks on Yeji.

As this social backlash exploded into complaints, the National Tax Service and Korea Communications Commission sprang into action.

Talk of government probes and regulations on streaming platforms heightened tensions inside AmericaTV.

Rumors spread to the market, prompting an immediate reaction.

Investors, sensitive to regulation risks and souring public opinion, sent AmericaTV's stock plummeting.

What began as a single star balloon brawl had spiraled into nationwide controversy, backlash, and even government intervention.

Unable to withstand the torrent of criticism, Yeji announced a broadcast hiatus. Jin-seong realized the situation had snowballed far beyond expectations and couldn't hide his fluster.

Sitting at his monitor, scanning the internet, bewilderment clouded his face.

News portals and communities brimmed with articles claiming society was in uproar over the balloons he'd sent.

Jin-seong muttered to himself.

"Did it really have to blow up this big?"

It had been just a spur-of-the-moment pride clash during a hobby stream he'd enjoyed.

He never imagined it escalating to a social issue, shaking mainstream news and even politics.

Uncomfortable, he picked up his phone to message Yeji but hesitated.

He wasn't the direct cause, but he'd undeniably played a major role.

With a heavy heart, he closed the browser tab.

Part of him was incredulous.

He never dreamed a bit of fun could turn into a societal problem.

But the thought that he might be at the center of this controversy started to build tension within him.

Jin-seong sighed deeply, leaning back into the sofa, his mood weighed down.

The lark had veered into unforeseen territory, forcing him to seriously consider his next moves.